Society,Social,Structure And Interaction Sociology Help

I began Dumpster diving [scavenging in a large garbage bin] about a year before I became homeless The area I frequent is inhabited by many affluent college students. I am not here by chance; the Dumpsters in this area are very rich. Students throw out many good things, including food. In particular they tend to throw everything out when they move at the end of a semester, before and after breaks, and around midterm, when many of them despair of college.SO I find it advantageous to keep an eye on the academic calendar. learned scavenge gradually my own. Since then I have initiated several companions into the trade. J have learned that there is a predictable series of stages ‘a person goes through in learning to scavenge. At first the new scavenger is f lied with disgust and self-loathing. He is ashamed of being seen and may lurk around, trying to duck behind things, or he may dive at night. (In fact, most people instinctively look away from a scavenger. By skulking around, the novice calls attention to himself and arouses suspicion.

Diving at:night is ineffective and needlessly messy.)… That stage passes with experience. The scavenger finds a pair of running shoes that fit and look and smell brand-new …. He begins to understand: People throwaway perfectly good stuff, a lot of perfectly good stuff. At this stage, Dumpster shyness begins to dissipate. The diver, after all, has the last laugh. He is finding all manner of good things that are his for the taking. Those who disparage his profession are the fools, not he. lurk around, trying to duck behind things, or he may dive at night. (In

fact, most people instinctively look away from a scavenger. By skulking around, the novice calls attention to himself and arouses suspicion. Diving at:night is ineffective and needlessly messy. That stage passes with experience. The scavenger finds a pair of running shoes that fit and look and smell brand-new He begins to understand: People throwaway perfectly good stuff, a lot of perfectly good stuff. At this stage, Dumpster shyness begins to dissipate. The diver, after all, has the last laugh. He is finding all manner of good things that are his for the taking. Those who disparage his profession are the fools, not he.

Author Lars Eighner recalls his experiences as a Dumpster diver while living under a shower curtain in a stand of bamboo in a public park. Banner became homeless when he was evicted from his “shack” after being unemployed for about a year. (Eighner, 1993: 111-119)